PICTURES: ‘Drive-by arson attack’ closes road

James Butler

A road was shut down last night due to a car fire, which witnesses described as a drive-by arson attack.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was called at just before 10.10pm last night with reports that a parked car was on fire in Portland Avenue in Hove.

Portland Avenue in Hove was closed while fire crews put out the car fire

One fire engine was went to the scene, and firefighters using breathing apparatus and a hose reel put out the blaze. The car was destroyed.

There were small crowds on Portland Road while the blaze was extinguished. Witnesses at the scene said they had seen a black car drive past and a substance was thrown out of the window at the silver car, which started the fire.

A Sussex Police spokesman confirmed that they were treating the incident as arson and would be investigating the crime.